Respite Care in Goleta, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Goleta, CA: the local picture

5,293

residents 65 or older (16% of Goleta)

75%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Santa Barbara County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Goleta ZIP codes

Most older adults in Goleta live with someone: 75% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 1,320 Goleta residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (30% in Santa Barbara County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Goleta ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Goleta compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Goleta	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	26%	23%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.8%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$91,701	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Goleta

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	1.4 mi	79	32%
Isla Vista, CA	1.6 mi	326	40%
Eastern Goleta Valley, CA	4.2 mi	6,940	25%
Santa Barbara, CA	8.6 mi	18,046	27%
Montecito, CA	13 mi	3,021	20%
Santa Ynez, CA	18 mi	1,065	30%

Hospices serving Goleta

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Santa Barbara Hospice And Palliative Care Inc	Santa Barbara, CA	7.4 mi	(888) 415-4159
Vna Health	Santa Barbara, CA	10 mi	(805) 965-5555
Aceso Hospice, Inc	Ventura, CA	29 mi	(818) 655-0502
Assisted Home Hospice	Ventura, CA	38 mi	(805) 677-7400
Dignity Health Hospice	Santa Maria, CA	49 mi	(805) 739-3830

Nursing homes near Goleta (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Buena Vista Care Center	Santa Barbara, CA	2.8 mi	2 of 5	150	(805) 964-4871
Channel Islands Post Acute	Santa Barbara, CA	6.2 mi	3 of 5	156	(805) 687-6651
Valle Verde Health Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	6.3 mi	5 of 5	80	(805) 883-4000
Mission Park Healthcare Center	Santa Barbara, CA	7.4 mi	5 of 5	138	(805) 682-7443

Straight-line miles from the center of Goleta. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Goleta

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $7,642 monthly median income of Goleta households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Goleta: common questions

Which hospices serve Goleta?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Goleta ZIP codes, including Santa Barbara Hospice And Palliative Care Inc, Vna Health, Aceso Hospice, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Goleta?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $7,642 monthly median income of Goleta households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Goleta. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Goleta

More senior care near Goleta

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Goleta

More for Goleta families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Respite Care in Goleta, CA